ID cards for spouses and students

They have announced the first tranche of the id card roll-out for 25 November.  This tranche is for spouses and students who apply in-country for FLR.  The announcement says FLR(M) and FLR(S), and I'm thinking that FLR(O)'s omission was an oversight, but will also be included.

It is not an overly big deal to get an id card, I participated in the pilot project. 

But if you are planning to apply for FLR after 25 November, you'll need to factor in this additional element to your timing considerations and make the necessary room in your schedule to get an ID card.

Garry, Is this for EEA applicants too?

No, it's just for those using British law.  EEA dependents are going to be covered by an EC directive.

Do people who have already applied for their FLR need to sort out a ID card as well?  Is there a link on the HO website? I seem not to be able to find one.

Do people who have already applied for their FLR need to sort out a ID card as well?  Is there a link on the HO website? I seem not to be able to find one.

If you already have FLR it doesn't affect you unless you want to extend your FLR.  It's just for newbies.

and people applying for ILR after 25th of November won't need one to apply?

and people applying for ILR after 25th of November won't need one to apply?

No, Chrissy, that part is being implemented in the Postal Code Roll Out.

hello!

does anyone have a link about how to obtain an ID card?  i will be applying for FLR (M) after 25th november and i can't seem to find any info about how to actually get a card on the homeoffice website...

thanks! 

staceyann, I don't think they've published specifics yet- just the announcement.  They'll probably update the forms and guidance notes a couple of weeks before 25 November (based on what they've done in the past for other changes.)

The statement from UKBA reads :-

From 25 November 2008 we will begin to issue identity cards to foreign nationals applying for further leave to remain in the United Kingdom under certain categories. The first cards will be issued to migrants applying as:

    * a student; or
    * the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner of someone holding permanent residence in the United Kingdom.

Applications under these categories are made using application forms FLR(S) or FLR(M).

More information about the identity cards for foreign nationals project can be found in the managing our borders section. This information sets out:

    * the reasons for introducing the identity cards:
    * the importance of the cards;
    * the benefits the cards will offer;
    * how the card will be used;
    * who will be issued with a card; and
    * when the guidance for checking the card will be published.

There is a query in my mind. "the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner of someone holding permanent residence in the United Kingdom." What do they mean by permanent residence? Are they thinking of anyone using the form FLR(M)? Or those married etc to someone holding ILR? Or indeed just someone married etc to someone with PR status on the EEA/EU route? Not exactly the clearest form of words UKBA could have chosen!

does anyone have a link about how to obtain an ID card?  i will be applying for FLR (M) after 25th november and i can't seem to find any info about how to actually get a card on the homeoffice website...

I think it is clear the the forms FLR(M) and FLR(S) will need to change in November, and that the ID card will be issued automatically to those making a relevant application. More information needs to emerge, for example, how and where to give bio data? After all not all applicants for one of these types of visas will have given that type of data previously.

There is a query in my mind. "the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner of someone holding permanent residence in the United Kingdom." What do they mean by permanent residence?

It was not well-worded because it was not well thought out. 

What they are trying to say is:  Dependents whose primary is on one of the economic tracks are excluded from this tranche, they will get picked up next year.

So Garry, that means that anyone that needs to use the form FLR(M) will be caught by the new provision.

Do we know if the FLR(M) application fee is going up in November, or will the ID card effectively be issued for free?

Nothing on the horizon. 

The odds are long against it because ID cards are currently on a different fee stream which hasn't been allocated yet.  Hubris, on the other hand, is not an unknown entity in these things.

Practically speaking, they are laying the 'biggest shakeup in 40 years' before Parliament in November, and LB would be reluctant to taint the moment with bad press about a fee increase.  Or anything else for that matter.

Well, something would eventually get me out of retirement and it was Biometric ID Cards...  GAWD!  I thought I was going to be able to avoid a trip to Croydon in November/December to get my SET-M, but I suspect I am now stuck.

Lucky me... Just in time to be one of the first to get the new cards.  I guess I will have to write the whole experience down to share with everyone.  I will have to keep up to speed too and see if there are any tidbits going on.  On the one hand, I am just looking forward to not having to carry two passports around with my old visa in it anymore and getting asked by Borders where my partner is all the time.

I think the cards are actually logical, though effective and sercure is still debatable in my mind...

According to the BBC article the reason they picked these groups, students and spouses, was because they are "the most likely to foreign nationals who officials say are most at risk of abusing immigration rules - students and those on a marriage or civil partnership visa."

I can see students being violators; they probably have little to lose.  They have no recourse to stay, but spouses?  They have no reason to not follow the rules.  They will be kicked out and not allowed to live their spouse.

I think they chose spouses because, unless they want to move to another country which could be difficult or impossible, they have no other recourse.  A student could decide to go to school somewhere else, a worker could choose to get job in another place, but you and your spouse only have a limited number of options.